Tobacco-stripping machine.



No. 678,485. Patented July l6, I90l.

L G. HAVENS.

ToBAccosTmPPma MACHINE,

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No. 628,485. Patented .Iul'ylfi, [90L J. a. mwENs.

ToBAccq STBIPPING MACHINE.

(Application fllad Mar. 8, 1901.)

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(No 'llodel.)

. WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY No. 678,485; Patented m I6, 1901.

,J. a. HAVENS.

TOBACCO STBIPPING MACHINE.

A umibn mm In. a, 1901.) (No Model.) B'Sheeis--Sheet 4.

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(No Model.)

ATTORNEY Patent ed July :5, 19m.

1.0. HAVENS. I TOBAGCOSTBIPPINHG MACHINE.

(Application ,filed Mar. 8, 1901.) I

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m0 EY :NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JosEPn c. HAS/ENS, or TBENTON, NEW JERSEY, nssicnon TO YUNDERWOOD STEMMING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

. TO'BACCO STRIPPING. MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 678,485, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed March 8, 1901. Serial lie- 50,291. (No model-1 To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. HAVENS, of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tobacco-Stripping 'Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to tobacco stemming or stripping machines; and its object is to remove the body portion of the tobacco-leaf from the stem.

The invention consists in the following principal features embodied in the complete machine: first, in combination with thefeedbelts self-ad j ustin g presser-rolls, whereby the feeding of the leaf is rendered more certain; second, the interposition of a support for the leaf in the space between the feed-belts and the drawing-in bars, whereby the leaf is prevented from falling through said interval and its presentation to the drawing-in bars is as sured, the said support being so constructed, arranged, and operating as to assist in the feeding forward of the leaf, to receive the stripped material thrown back by the stripping-rolls, to prevent the material so received from interfering with the advance of the leaves, and to discharge said material at regular periods, and, third, the novel construction and combination of drawing-in bars and corrugated stripping-rolls rotating independently on a common axis, the said bars revolving around and in opposite direction to that of the rolls, whereby the bars passing between the stripping-rolls, which are held asunder, first operate to draw the leaf between the stripping-rolls and to present it to the grasp of the first pair of drawing-rolls, and then the bars, continuing their rotation, release the leaf, and the stripping-rolls, no longer held apart, at once act upon it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine. elevation taken in the direction of the arrow X, Fig. 1, the driving-pulley being removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation in the direction of the arrow Y, Fig.1, the chain belt 119 and sprocket-wheels over which. it passes being removed for the sake of clearness. Fig. 4 is avertical section on the line A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is adetail plan View of the right-hand front portion of the machine. Fig. 6 is a cor- Fig. 2 is a side responding view of the left-hand front portion, certain parts being shown in section and other parts being broken away in order to exhibit the construction. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transversesection of the stripping-rolls and drawing-in bars. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the under side of one of the drawing-in bars, showing corrugations. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the said bars. Figs. 10 and 11 are partial vertical sections on the line C D of Fig. 6, designed to show the operation of the machine at two stages, which will be hereinafter explained. Fig. 12 is a detail viewin plan and part horizontal section of the feeding-in belt, the triangular leaf-support, drawing-in belts, stripper-rolls, and the first drawing-roll, together with the associated mechanism. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the triangular table, the rotary rolls thereof, and the mechanism for working the same, certain parts being shown in section on the line E F of Fig. 15. Fig. 14. is a side elevation of the pinion for operating the revolving table and the gearing for rotating rolls at the angles of said table. Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line I J of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a transverse section on the line G H of Fig. Fig. 17 shows separately the coupling sleeve, whereby the gears are coupled together.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like arts. I

p 1 and 2 are the side frames of the machine, connected together by the transverse beam 3 and the rods 3*, Fig. 4. The frames 1 and 2 I are provided with arms 5 and 6, which may be integral with them and which are connected by the transverse beam 7.

For the purpose of convenient explanation this machine may be regarded as having five principal portions distinguished as follows: First, the feed-belts; second, the rotary polygonal block for feeding and supporting the leaves arranged in the interval between the 5 feed-belts and the drawing-in device; third, the drawing-in and stripping devices, and, fourth, the stem-cleaning devices or the devices for separating the stems and the remaining leaf material still adherent to them. These I will describe in the foregoing order.

First. The feeding belts.Between the are journaled the ends of the rod 18.

arms 5 and 6 and the cross-beam 7are arranged the feed-belts for the material to be treated, the construction and arrangement of which are as follows: Extending between the arms 5 and 6 is a rod 3, which on the outside of said arms is provided with washers 10 in order to preventlongitudinal motion. This rod passes through and supports the ends of a series of partitions 11. Fast upon the rod 8 and between the partitions 11 are rolls 12. Near the opposite ends of the arms 5 and 6 are formed slots 14, Figs. 2 and 3, in which slots are sliding bearings 16, in which bearings 16 This rod carries a long roll 19, Fig. 1, which is disposed below the partitions 11, the under side of said partitions being cut away to permit of said roll being placed in substantially the same horizontal plane as the roll 12. The ends of the partitions 11 opposite to those which are supported on the rod 12 are received in recesses on the beveled inner side 20, Fig. 1, of the cross-beam 7 and are so held.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the rectangular area included between the arms 5 and 6 and the cross-beam 7 is divided by the partitions 11 into a series ofcompartments parallel to the arms 5 and 6, and that in each of said compartments there is a roll 12, and that the long roll 19 on the rod 18 extends across all of the compartments. In each compartment thus formed there is an endless feed-belt, such as 21, which passes over the rolls 12 and 19. Consequently if the rod 8 is rotated by any suitable means all of the feed-belts in all the compartments will be simultaneously actuated to carry the material placed upon said belts into the machine. The tension of these feed-belts is controlled by adjusting the sliding bearings 16 in their slots 14 by means of the set-screws 22, which pass through lugs 23 on the arms 5 and 6 and which bear in the ordinary way against the sliding bearings 16. Fast in the upwardly-projecting lugs 24 on the arms 5 and 6 is a rod 25, upon which are a number of loose concave rolls 26. To these rolls 26 particular attention is directed. The openings in them through which the rod 25 passes are larger in diameter than said rod, so that said rolls have a certain amount of play to adjust themselves with respect to varying thickness of material passing under them. They also exert pressure upon said mate rial equal to their weight. One of such concave rolls 26 is, as shown, arranged in each of the compartments formed by the partitions 11. Where feed-belts such as described are used alone, the leaves are propelled forwardby said belts solely by reason of the frictional contact due to their weight. Hence any slight obstruction which they may encounter in their travel will retard or stop their movement, although the belt meanwhile continues its motion under them, and thus the capacity of the machine may become diminished. The presser-rolls 26 by their frictional contact above the leaves prevent such stoppage or delay. The supporting-rod 25 is readily removable from its bearings, when the rolls can be taken off and heavier or lighter rolls substituted to suit difierent weights of leaves. Thus the heavier the tobacco the longer the leaf and the greater'the weight of presser-rolls required. For very light tobacco I prefer a light wooden roll covered with lambs wool, and as the weight of the tobacco increases I may use rolls of different wood of different weight per unitof material, the heaviest rolls being preferably made of oak or hickory.

Second. The rotary polygonal supportingbZock.Between the feeding-table and the primary stripping device is interposed a rotary polygonal block 39, (here shown as triangular,) the function of which is to support on its uppermosthorizontal side the leaf delivered by the feed-belts as said leaf passes over the interval between the belts and the drawing-in bars and also to receive the tobacco stripped fromthc stem and thrown back upon it and to deliver the said stripped tobacco below the machine. This rotary triangular block I will now describe, referring more particularly to Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Journaled in the framesl and 2 is a shaft27, which carries two disks 28 29, which disks are formed integral with their hubs 38, and these hubs are secured to the shaft 27 in the ordinary way by set-screws. 1n the disk 29 are three apertures disposed at the angles of an equilateral triangle, which receive the ends of rolls 3O 31 32. The disk 28 has similar apertures in which are received the opposite ends of said rolls. The extremities of the rolls 30 31 32, which pass through the disks 28 and 29, are reduced in diameter, so as to form shoulders bearing on said disks in order to prevent longitudinal motion. As shown in section in Fig. 13, into the end of each roll, as 30, is inserted a long stud 33, which is secured in the roll by means of a dowel-pin 34. Integral with this stud is formed a pinion 35. 36 and 37, Fig. 15, are similar pinions connected in like manner to the rolls 31 and 32. The entire triangular space included between the three rolls 30 31. 32 is filled with a triangular block of wood 39 or other solid material, through which, of course, the shaft 27 passes, as shown in Fig. 16. This block of wood 39 is removed in Fig. 13 in order to exhibit other parts more clearly; but it is shown, for example, in Figs. 1, 6, and 12. Clearance is left between it and the rolls 30 31 32, so that it does not interfere with the rotation of said rolls. At one end of the shaft 27 there is a loose sleeve 40, (shown separately in Fig. 17,) upon the ends of which are formed pinions 41 42. The pinion 41 engages with three fixed pinions 43 44 45, which are pivoted upon the disk 29, and these pinions 43, 44, and 45 engage with the roll-pinions 36 37, so that when the sleeve is rotated by means of the large gear 46 engaging with pinion 42 ICC will be seen, therefore, that for each revolu tion of the large pinion 46 the shaft 27 is, by the action of stud 51 striking whichever stud 48, 49, or 50 as happens to be in its path, ro-

tated a distance equal to one-third of a revolution and is retained in that position by the friction device 15. Hence, assuming the upper surface of block 39 to be horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4, this partial revolution will bring its next side uppermost and horizontal. Meanwhile the rolls 35, 36, and 37 willbe continuously rotated on their own axes in the direction of rotation of the shaft 27. Inasmuch as these rolls 35, 36, and 37 are constantly rotating in a direction toward the drawing-in devices, the two of them which are uppermost operate at all times to carry the material from the feeding-belts to the drawing-in devices. As will hereinafter be explained, the stripped material is thrown back upon the upper surface of block 39. When that block is rotated forward one-third of a revolution by the means described, this material falls from said surface. As the rotation of the rolls 35, 36, and 37 is continuous, their operation assists in throwing the returned material from the surface of the block. It will be seen, therefore, that the rotary triangularblock 39 and associate parts fill up the gap between the feeding-table and machine proper, convey the tobacco-leaves over that gap, and then automatically free themselves from that material, so that any possibility of any accumu-' lation of material in front of the feed-belts is completely prevented.

Third. The drawing-in and stripping dem'ccs.]3olted on the upper sides of the main frames 1 and 2 are the roll-supporting frames 52 and 53, provided with caps 54 55, Figs. 2 and 3. to receive the bearings of four pairs of rolls, which will hereinafter be described in detail. The lower bearings of all these rolls are fixed. The upper bearings of all of them are loose. Above each of the upper bearings is a coiled spring, as shown at 56, which coiled spring is adjustable in the usual way by means of a set-screw 57, which passes through the cap 54 or 55.

Extending across the machine are the shafts 58 and 59, fast upon which are the strippingrolls 60 and 61, explanation of the construction and operation of which is deferred until after the drawingin device has been described, Referring now to Figs. 7, 8, and 9, at 62 and 63, Fig. 7, are shown in transverse section two bars, preferably of steel. One of these bars is shown in plan in Fig. 8 and in These frames are slotted vertically side elevation in Fig. 9. Each bar is convex on its outer side and concave on its inner side, and said inner side is corrugated, so that theinner surface of said bars may correspond in configuration to the corrugated surfaces of the rolls 60 and 61, to which they are in proximity, but not in contact. Each bar is caused to rotate around the axis of the corrugated roll with which it is associated and the two bars revolve in opposite directions, so that (see Figs. 10 and 11) if a leaf be introduced with the stem butt-end foremost between said bars, Fig. 10, it will be grasped between their outer convex surfaces and so drawn into the machine. Of course inasmuch as the convex surfaces of the bars are eccentric when they come into approximation and are directly above and below the grasped leaf, Fig. 11, then the upper bearings of the shaft 58 yield and the upper stripping-roll 60 is widely separated from the lower stripping-roll 61. Hence it will be readily understood that while the drawingin bars are actually drawing in the leaf the stripping-rolls 60 and 61 can have no effect upon it. In other words,although the drawingin bars 62 and 63 rotate around the same axial centers as the stripping-rolls their motion and operation are entirely independent of said rolls. The relative coaction of bars and rolls is, however, this-namely, that while the bars are in engagement with the. leaf, drawing it into the machine, the rolls, though still rotating and in a direction opposite to that of the bars, are prevented from acting on the leaf, and while the stripping-rolls are acting on the leaf then each drawing-bar is completing that part of its path of revolution in which it is not in contact either with the leaf or with the other bar.

I will now describe the mechanism for operating the drawing-in bars 62 and 63 in the manner above set forth, taking first the upper stripping-roll shaft 58. Surrounding that shaft near one end and passing through the shaft-bearing is a sleeve 64, carrying the inner cam 65, secured to which is the elliptical gear 66. On the opposite portion of said shaft, Fig. 12, is a similar sleeve 67, cam 68, and gear 69. The drawing-in .bar 62, asso ciated with shaft 58, extending, as stated, across the machine, is carried by the sleevecams 65 and 68, Fig. 1, and therefore connects and is supported by the sleeves 64 and 67. The lower stripping-roll shaft 59 is similarly provided near each end with sleeves, cams supporting the lower drawing-in bar 63 and elliptical gears, one of which is shown at 71, Fig. 7. The elliptical gears 66 and 69 of sleeves 64 and 67 on the upper shaft 58 are, respectively, in mesh with the elliptical gears of the sleeves on the lower shaft 59. The cams 65 and 68 of the upper sleeves bear against the corresponding cams of the lower sleeves. It will now be apparent, first, that if rotary motion be imparted to the sleeves 64 and 67 on the upper shaft 58 the upper drawing-in bar 62, carried by said sleeves, will be rotated around the periphery of the stripping-roll second, that this motion of the drawing-in bar will be independent of the fact that the stripping-roll about which its revolution takes place may also be in rotation; third, in like manner the lower drawing-in bar 63 can be revolved around the lower shaft 59 independently of the individual rotation of that shaft; fourth, that this revolution of the lower drawing-in bar is effected by the engagement of the elliptical gears 66 and 69 on the sleeves of the upper shaft 58 with the elliptical gears above referred to on the sleeves of the lower shaft 59; fifth, that at the time the bars 62 and 63 come together between the shafts 58 and 59, Fig. 11, the most eccentric portions of the cams on these shafts then act to force the upper shaft 58 away from the lower shaft 59, thus widely separating the stripping-rolls, so that the bars 62 and 63 can pass between them, and, sixth, that nevertheless the elliptical gears being disposed with respect to their eccentricity in like manner to the cams still remain in engagement, so that despite the separation of the supporting-shafts the motion of the lower bar uninterruptedly continues. Shaft 58 is permitted to rise the short distance necessary by the flexibility or looseness of the chain 109.

The stripping-rolls 60 and 61 are corrugated cylinders having circular flanges and are placed with said flanges in peripheral contact. The grooves between the flanges admit of free passage of the stem while the body of the leaf is gripped between said flanges. Said rolls are fast upon their shafts, and they are geared to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the feed. In proximity to them is the first pair of drawing-rolls 72 73, which are geared together, as shown in Fig. 2, and driven in the direction of the feed from the large gear 46. The drawing-in bars, having engaged with the leaf, as shown in Fig. ll, carry the leaf onward until the stem is caught between the drawing-rolls 72 and 73. Then the cams on the sleeves carrying the drawing-in bars will have rotated sufficiently to permit the upper stripping-roll to descend upon the lower stripping-roll. As these stripping-rolls rotate in the opposite direction to that in which the leaf is being drawn by the drawing-rolls 72 73, the effect is that the leaf is removed from the stem in a substantially untorn state, (or, in other words, in a condition which will permit of its being used for cigars,) is thrown rearward by the stripping-rolls and upon the triangular supporting-block 39.

I desire at this point to call especial attention to the fact that I do not use any mechanism to carry the leaf into the machine from the feed-belts, which mechanism after the leaf has been gripped by drawing or similar rolls is suddenly reversed in order to strip the leaf. On the contrary, my drawing-inmechanism is not the stripping mechanism, but is wholly independent thereof. My strippingrolls are not reversed, but continue always revolving in direction opposite to that of the feed. At the time the convex drawing-in bars are performing their drawing-in function the stripping-rolls are held asunder and cannot operate to strip. The operations of the drawing-in device and the stripping device are successive,although both rotate about a common axis and of neither is the direction of rotation ever changed. This is one of the most important features of this machine. It is a wholly pioneer invention. I am entitled to the broadest range of equivalents for it, and

I desire my claims based thereon to be so construed.

The stem-cleaning devices.After passing through the first drawing-rolls 72 73 the stems, with such small portions of the leaf as may still adhere to them, pass to the brush-rolls 74. 75, the shafts 76 77 of which have at their ends pinions 78 and 79, Fig. 3, and motion is communicated from one pinion to the other by the intervening gearing 80 and 81, Fig. 3. The last pair of drawing-rolls are mounted on shafts 82 and 83, which shafts carry on their ends pinions 84 and 85, Fig. 2, which engage with one another and which receive rotary motion from a pinion 86, which engages with the gear-wheel 89. Between the frames 1 and 2 and below the series of rolls just described is mounted a blower, Fig, 4, of any suitable construction provided with a blast-opening 87 on its upper side and driven by a belt 88 from a pulley 89 on the first motion-shaft 90. The stems from the last drawing-rolls pass over and upon the delivery-slide 91. The small leaf fragments from the rolls drop upon the slide 92, Fig. 4, and in passing from the lower end thereof meet the blast from the blower and are thus thrown to the front of the machine, where they mingle with the already-stripped material.

Having described the various operative parts of the machine, I will now explain the gearing by which the several parts are set in motion.

The gcaring.-The main driving-belt pulley is shown at 93, Fig. 1. Its shaft 94; extends across the machine and carries two gears 95 and 96, Figs. 3 and 6. The inner gear 95 engages with pinion 97, Fig. 3, and pinion 97 engages with pinion 79, which is on the shaft 77 of the lower brush-roll. Pinion 79, through pinions 80 and 81, engages with pinion 78, which drives the upper brush-roll. In this way the brush-rolls are actuated.

Returning now to the belt-pulley side of the machine: 0n the first motion-shaft there is a pinion 98, Fig. 2,which engages with the large gear l6. Thatlarge gear 46, as already explained, actuates through the stud 51 the triangular rotating table and through the gear 42 the rolls 30 31 32 on that table, and through the gear 99, which is fast on the end of the shaft 8, the pulleys 12, whereby the feed-belts 21 are driven.

I will now explain the mechanism for actuating the stripping-rolls and 61 and the drawing-in bars 62 and 63. First, as to the stripping rolls 60 and 61: The -1ower stripping-roll 61 is driven from one end and positively. Therefore its shaft is provided at one extremity with the pinion 100, Fig. 3, which, through the pinion 101, engages with the pinion 102, whichis fast on the end of the shaft 103 on which is the large pulley 46, Fig. 2. The upper stripping-roll 60 is actuated also from one end and in the following manner: J ournaled in long bearings 104 at the rear portion of the frames 1 and 2 is a shaft 105, Figs. 3 and 6. This shaft carries a gear 106, which receives motion through the transmittingpinion 107 from the gear 96, which is on the driving-shaft 90. Also on the shaft 105is a sprocket-wheel 108 and from wheel 108 by chain belt 109 motion is transmitted to the pinion 110, which is fast on the end of the shaft 58, which carries the upper strippingroll 60.

The drawing-in bars are actuated as follows: On the shaft 105 is a long sleeve 111, which passes through the bearings 104 and receives rotation from the large gear 46 by means of a chain belt 115, which passes over a sprocket-wheel116 on the shaft or gear, and a sprocket-wheel 112, carried by said sleeve. On the sleeve 111 and at opposite sides of the machine are sprocketwheels 117 and 118. Sprocket 117 is connected to sprocket 117* on sleeve 64 by chain-belt 119, Fig. 6. Sprocket 118 is connected to sprocket 120 on sleeve 67 by chain belt 121, Figs. 1, 2, and 5. The sleeves 64 and 67, as already stated, support the upper draw ipg-in bar 62, and therefore as these sleeves are rotated the said bar is revolved around the associated stripping-roll 60 in the manner previously described. It will be observed that the bar is driven at both ends in order to avoid any possible warping or skewing which might follow the application of power to one end only.

I will now describe the operation of the entire machine. The leaves tobe stripped are fed by the attendant or attendants upon the feed-belts 21, and by these belts they are carried underneath the concave presser-rolls 26 and thence over the triangular table 39 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 10. At this time the drawing-in bars 62 and 63 are rotating in such direction around the corrugated stripping-rolls as to grasp the end of the stem (shown at a in Fig. '10) between them. The resulting position of parts is then as shown in Fig. 11, the cams and 68 then operating to move asunder the stripping-rolls. The drawing-in bars continue to revolve, drawing in the leaf until the end of the stem is grasped between the drawing-rolls 72 73. By this time, however, the drawing-in bars have revolved so far as to permit the stripping-rolls to come together with the leaf between them. These stripping-rolls, by reason of the gearing described, rotate inthe reverse direction to that of the drawing-rolls 72 and 73, and their cffeet is t6 strip off the leafportion of'the' tobacco from the stem, throwing it rearwardly upon the top of the triangular revolving table 39. At certain intervals determined by the period of rotation of the large gear 46 the table 39 rotates forwardly for one-third of a revolution, the efiect then being to throw oif the stripped material, which has come upon what was formerly its upper side, to the floor or into any suitable receptacle placed to receive it. Meanwhile as the table 39 is rotating in a forwardly direction, as described, one of the small rolls thereofas, for example, roll 30 in Fig. 11-takes up the advancing end of the leaf which has just come upon it, so that said end of said leaf cannot push itself under whatever accumulation of alreadystripped leaves may lie upon the upper surface of that table. After the leaf has been subjected to the action of the stripping-rolls the stem, with whatever portions of tobacco there may be adherent upon it, is carried between the brush-rolls and the loose portions of tobacco still further removed, the stem being drawn through these rolls by the action of the last pair of drawing-rolls 82 83, which then engage it. The stem, still moving forward, now passes over the apron 91, down which it slides, and so leaves the machine. Any loose material, as alreadydescribed, falls upon the apron 92 and is carried down to the blower, which throws it back into the receptacle or heap beneath the machine. The drawing-in bars 62 and 63, as already stated, rotate in such direction as to grasp the end of the stem between them and so carry it into the machine. The drawing-in rolls 72 and 73, the brushes 74 and 75, and the drawing-rolls 82 and 83 are revolved in the same direction as the drawing-in bars aforesaid. The strippingrolls rotate in the reverse direction and are the only devices thus acting upon the leaf which turn in that way.

The relative speeds of the various parts are as follows, it being understood that these numbers are relative and approximate: The feed-belts 21 may travel at'the rate of about three hundred feet a minute. The strippingrolls rotate about three hundred revolutions per minute. The drawing-in bars rotate at about thirty-eight revolutions per minute. The triangular revolving table 39 moves onethird of a revolution to present a new upper surface thirty-eight times per minute, or, in other words, it exposes a new upper surface at each revolution of the drawing-in bars. The first pair of drawing-rolls revolve at the rate of one hundredand seventy revolutions per minute, the brush-rolls at the rate of one thousand revolutions per minute, and the second pair of drawingnolls at one hundred and seventy revolutions per minute. The speed of the blower maybe anything that is desired. I have sed it at sixteen hundred revolutions per minute.

. I find by actual trial that the following practical advan tages result from the foregoing improvements: The apparatus is rapid and economical in operation, it does not tear the stripped material, and it separates leaf and small particles from the stem, delivering the stem in a clear state.

I claim- 1. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a device for stripping the same, a support for said leaves interposed between said devices and polygonal in cross-section and means for rotating said support whereby the sides thereof are successively brought uppermost, substantially as described.

2. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a device for stripping the same, a device for drawing in the leaves to said stripping device, a support for said leaves interposed between said feeding and drawing-in devices and polygonal in cross-section, and means for rotating said support whereby the sides thereof are successively brought uppermost, substantially as described.

3. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a stripping device and a support for the leaves interposed between said devices; the said support being constructed and arranged to receive the stripped portions of leaves from said stripping device and intermittently to discharge said stripped portions, substantially as described.

4:. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a stripping device and a support constructed to receive stripped portions of the leaves from said stripping device, and means for intermittently turning said support on its axis to effect the discharge of said stripped portions therefrom, substantially as described.

5. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a device for stripping the same operating to discharge the stripped portions of the leaves in opposite direction to that of the feed, and means for receiving and discharging said stripped portions interposed between said feeding and stripping devices, substantially as described.

6. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a stripping device, a drawing-in device and a support for the leaves interposed between said feeding and drawing-in devices; the said support being constructed and arranged to guide the incoming leaves from feeding device to drawing-in device and to receive and discharge the stripped portions from the stripping device, substantially as described.

7. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a stripping device and a support for the "leaves interposed between said devices; the aforesaidparts being constructed and arranged so that he Sa feeding device delivers leaves to be treated and the said stripping device delivers stripped portions of leaves upon said support, substantially as described.

8; In a tobacco-stripping machine, a feeding device for the leaves, a stripping device, a support for the leaves interposed between said devices and receiving the stripped leaves from said stripping device, and means for preventing the leaves delivered upon said support from the feeding device engaging with the stripped portions delivered to said support by the stripping device, substantially as described.

9. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a constantly-moving stripping device and a constantly-moving drawing-in device for the leaves and means for moving the said devices alternately into position to be operative upon said leaves, substantially as described.

10. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a pair of coacting stripping-rolls and a pair of coacting drawing-in bars; the said bars respectively revolving around the peripheries of said rolls, substantially as described.

11. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a pair of coacting stripping-rolls and a pair of coacting drawing-in bars; the said bars respectively revolving around the peripheries of said rolls and in the opposite direction to that of the revolution of said rolls, substantially as described.

12. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a pair of coacting stripping-rolls, and a pair of coacting drawing-in bars; the said bars respectively revolving around the peripheries of said rolls, and means for separating said rolls to permit of the passage of said bars between them, substantially as described.

13. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a pair of coacting stripping-rolls, a pair of adjacent drawing-rolls, and means for intermittently separating said stripping-rolls to permit of the passage of the leaves to be stripped to said drawing-rolls,substantially as described.

14. In a tobacco-stripping machine, a pair of coacting stripping-rolls, means for intermittently separating said rolls, a pair of coacting drawing-in bars respectively revolving around said rolls and in opposite direction thereto and a pair of drawing-rolls; the aforesaid parts being constructed and arranged so that a leaf on being grasped between said drawing-in bars is thereby carried between said strippingrolls to said drawing-rolls, substantially as described.

15. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine of the shaft 27, means for intermittently partially rotating said shaft and polygonal block 39 on said shaft, substantially as described. I I

16. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine of the shaft 27, means for intermittently partially rotating said shaft, frictionbrake 15, 15* controlling said shaft and polygonal block 39 on said shaft, substantially as described.

17. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine of the rotary shaft 27, disks 28, 29 thereon, rolls 30, 31, 32 journaled in said disks, pinions 35, 36, 37 on said rolls, triangular provided with pinions 41,,42, means for rotating said disk engaging .With pinion42, and transmitting gearing'between pinion 41 and pinions 35, 36,37, substantially asdescribed. 18. The'combination ina tobacco-stripping machine with the rotary shafts 58 and '59 and stripping-rolls 60 and 61 thereon, of sleeves 64 and 67 respectively di'sposed at each extremity of each of said shafts, means for rotating said sleeves, cams 64 and 68 and gears 66 and'69 on said sleeves, and meansfor rotating said sleeves independently of said shafts; the cams and gears on the sleeves of one shaft contacting and engaging with the cams and gears on thesleeves of the other shaft, whereby said stripping-rolls are intermittently sep-. arated and motion continuously transmitted from the sleeves of one shaft'to the sleeves of the other, substantially as described.

19. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine of the rotary shafts 58 and 59 and stripping-rolls 60 and 61 thereon, of sleeves 64 and 67 respectively disposed at each extremity of each of said shafts, means for retating said sleeves, an outwardly-convex bar supported at its ends by said sleeves, cams 64 and 68, gears 66 and 69 on said sleeves, and means for rotating said sleeves independently of said shafts; the cams and gears on the sleeves of one shaft contacting and engaging with the cams and gears on the sleeves of the other shaft; whereby said bars are caused to revolve around said stripping-rolls: said stripping-rolls are intermittently separated to admit of passage of said bars between them and motion is continuously transmitted from the sleeves of one shaft to the sleeves of the other shaft, substantially as described.

20. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine, of a feeding device for the leaves, a support for said leaves, rotary drawing-in bars, a pair of stripping-rolls means for intermittently separating said stripping-rolls and a pair of drawing-rolls; the aforesaid parts being constructed and arranged and operating so that the leaves continuously fed upon said support and seized bywsaid drawing-in bars are carried between the separated stripping-rolls to said drawing-rolls,and there after said stripping-rolls closing together act upon said leaves held by said drawing rolls to strip the same, substantially as described 21. The combination in a tobacco-stripping machine, of a feeding device for the leaves, an intermittently partially rotating polygonal support for said leaves, rotary drawing-i bars, a pair of stripping-rolls rotating in reverse direction to that of said drawing-in bars,

means for intermittently separating said stripping-rolls and a pair of drawing-rolls; the aforesaid parts being constructed and arranged and operating so that the leaves continuously fed upon said support and seized by said drawing-in bars are carried between the separated stripping-rolls to said drawingrolls, and thereafter said stripping-rollsclosin g together act upon said leaves held by said drawing-rolls to strip the same and to deliver the stripped portions upon said polygonal support by the partial rotation of which sup port said stripped portions are discharged, substantially as described.

22. The combination ina tobacco-stripping machine, of a feeding device for the leaves,

a support for said leaves, rotary drawing-in bars, a pair of stripping-rolls, means for in termittently separating said stripping-rolls, a pair of drawing-rolls, brush-rolls and a sec 0nd pair of drawing-rolls; the aforesaid parts being constructed and arranged and operating so that the leaves continuously fed upon said support and seized by said drawing-in bars are carried between the separated stripping-rolls, and thereafter said stripping-rolls closing together act upon said leaves held by said drawing-rolls to strip the same, and there after the stems of said leaves are passed through said brush-rolls to said second drawing-rolls and further stripped, substantially as described.

, JOSEPH G. HAVENS. Witnesses:

HARRY E. RICHARDS, H. R. HOLLER. 

